Towel-rack



*(No Model.) 2 She.ets-Sheet 1.

G. L. THOMPSON. TOWEL RACK, m.

'No. 586,080. Patented July 6, 1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2.

G. L. THOMPSON. TOWEL RACK, &c.

No. 586,080. Patented July 6, 1.897.

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' NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TOWEL-RACK, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,080, dated July 6, 1897. Application filed A t 31, 1893. Serial No. 484,492. (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. THOMPSON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towel-Racks, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in towel-racks of that class consisting of ahorizontally-arranged rod or bar and bracketarms which are located at opposite ends of the bar and are secured to a wall, the side of a washstand, or other piece of furniture, or in like position to sustain the rod or bar in proper position for use. I

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

The more precise nature of my invention will be better understood when described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a towelrack embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a ver tical longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical section of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 at right angles to the plane of section of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a modified form of towel-rack embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a still further modified form of towel-rack embodying my inyention. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same, the rack being also shown partly in vertical section.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, A designates the main supporting rod or bar of the rack, it being the intention to hang the towels, bath-cloths, and similar articles upon 7 said rod or bar in the usual or any convenient manner. This rod is preferably of wood,

although it maybe of metal, if preferred, and is to be of any desired length, and also either plain or ornamental externally, as desired.

B designates the bracket-arms of the rack, these arms being also preferably of wood, but permissibly of metal, if desired, and either plain or ornamented externally in any suitable manner. To the outer end of each bracket-arm B is connected a head O, having a stem 0, which is driven tightly into the end of the bracket-arm B longitudinally thereof. The stems c are of much less diameter than the outer ends of the bracket arms B and pass loosely transversely through the bar or rod A, as at a, near the ends thereof. This is the simplest form of my invention, and it will be seen that the bracket-arms B are capable of being freely rotated axially without disconnection from the bar A, the stems c of the heads 0 turning at such time freely in the loosely-surrounding portions a of the bar A.

The outer ends of the bracket-arms B and the inner ends or surfaces of the heads O of stems c constitute shoulders. or abutments between which the bar A is confined against movement in the direction of the length of the bracket-arms, said pins 0 passing loosely through the bar A, as stated. This feature of construction is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. 1

'When the brackets B are of wood,the stems c of the heads 0 are preferably glued into the ends of the'brackets; but in case the parts are of metal the stems 0 may be riveted or otherwise suitably secured in the outer ends of the brackets. The heads 0 obviously prevent any accidental separation of the brackets from the rod or bar A.

From the inner end of each bracket 13 projects a screw b, which extends longitudinally outward from the bracket, and which may either be separate from the bracket and driven firmly into the end of the same, as

shown in Fig. 3, or which may form an integral part of the bracket, as preferred. Thus when the rack is to be secured to a wall or to a piece of furniture, or to any other supporting structure, as X, the brackets 18 are simply turned axially, so as to work their screws 19 into the substance of the structure, and no previous separation of the bar or rod A from the brackets B is necessary.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 I have shown a modifi cation of construction embodying, however, the essential principles of my invention, as above described. In this instance the towelsupport proper is formed of the bar A and of two or any desired number of posts or coupling-pieces D. The stems c of the heads 0 pass loosely through the opposite ends d of the coupling-pieces D, and thus the brackets 13 may be turned axially when working the screws 1) into the substance of a supporting structure, as X, without previously disconnecting the coupling-pieces D from the brackets or the rod A from said coupling-pieces. Moreover, the loose connection of the rod A with the coupling-pieces D enables the brackets B to be moved nearer to or farther from each other, according to the requirements of the form of the structure to which the rack is to be secured.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a still further modification of construction embodying, however, the essential principles of my invention. In this instance the coupling-pieces D are used to connect the brackets B to the bar A, and the stems c of the heads O pass loosely through the ends cl of said coupling-pieces, as in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the brackets B being thus free to be turned axially when attaching the bracket to a supporting structure, as X. In this instance, however, the coupling-pieces D have stems D extending outward longitudinally from those ends which are opposite from the ends through which the stems c of the heads 0 pass and are journaled, the stems D working loosely through perforations or apertures a, preferably near the ends of the bar A and having rigid heads (Z at their outer ends. Thus it will be seen that the couplings D may be turned axially, so as to bring the brackets B parallel with the rod A, as shown in Fig. 8, and that much space can thus be economized when the brackets are packed for shipment. Moreover, it will be seen that when the rack is to be secured to the corner of a wall, or to the corner of an article of furniture, or to a cylindrical or concave or convex object the brackets may be inclined away from or toward each other, and that the range of usefulness of the rack is thus greatly increased.

As above stated, the parts of the racks in either instance may be either of wood or of metal, or partly of both, and a structure may be produced in which the couplings both slide upon the rod, as in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and are swiveled relatively thereto, as in Figs. 7 and 8.

It will be understood that in constructing the herein-described device the towel-support proper as a whole, comprising the bar A and coupling pieces or posts D, may be made in one piece with some economy of fitting and without sacrifice of strength or artistic effect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A towel-rack comprising a towel-support provided near its ends with bracket-arms having attaching-screws at their inner ends, said towel-support being mounted between confining-shoulders upon pins or stems secured to said arms and passing loosely through said support, substantially as described.

2. A towel-rack comprising a towel-support, bracket-arms carrying said support and provided at their inner ends with attachingscrews, said bracket-arms being permanently swiveled to the towel-support by means of headed pins or stems of small diameter passing transversely through the towel-support and forming a longitudinal extension of the bracket-arms, substantially as described.

3. A towel-rack, comprising a bar or rod and coupling-pieces forming a towel-support, bracket-arms for sustaining said support provided at their inner ends with attachingscrews, said coupling-pieces connected with said bar or rod and mounted on said bracketarms between confining-shoulders upon pins or stems secured to said bracket-arms, said pins passing loosely through said couplingpieces, substantially as described.

4. A towel-rack comprising a bar or rod andcoupling-pieces forming a towel-support, bracket-arms for sustaining said support provided at their inner ends with attachingscrews, said coupling-pieces being provided with bearing-apertures through which the bar or rod is adapted to slide longitudinally and being mounted on said bracket-arms between confining-shoulders upon pins or stems secured to said bracket-arms, said pins or stems passing loosely through apertures arranged at right angles to those receiving the bar or rod, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

O. CLARENCE POOLE, TAYLOR E. BROWN. 

